Chesney v. Chesney

Summary

The Supreme Court of Mississippi affirmed a child support award that exceeded the statutory guidelines. The court held that the chancellor made sufficient findings to justify the deviation and did not abuse her discretion by requiring the father to pay monthly support and a share of private-school, extracurricular, and automobile-related expenses.

Holdings

1. The chancellor made sufficient factual findings, supported by the evidentiary record, to rebut the presumption that the statutory child-support guideline was the appropriate measure of support.
2. The $530 monthly award and the additional obligations for private school, extracurricular activities, and a vehicle were not so excessive as to constitute an abuse of the chancellor's discretion.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the chancellor made sufficiently specific findings supported by an evidentiary record to rebut the statutory presumption that Mississippi's child-support guidelines supplied the appropriate award.
2. Whether the child-support award, including contributions toward private school, extracurricular activities, and a vehicle, was excessive and constituted an abuse of discretion.

Disposition

affirmed